Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

George William Cardew Macartney was born on the 2nd January 1887 at Burnett Lodge, South Brisbane QLD.  He had the worst of all starts to life with his father George William, a doctor, having died 4 months prior to his birth at the age of 26 from an accidental overdose of drugs.  Then, just a day after his birth, his mother Minna passed away aged 24.  George was taken in and cared for by his Uncle, Alfred Thompson and his wife who lived in New South Wales. 

His schooling took place at The Armidale School, St Paul’s College and later the University of Sydney where he commenced studies as a medical student in 1906.  In 1910 he graduated with a Batchelor of Medicine (MB) and later on, a Master of Surgery (Ch. M).   

In 1912 he went into practice with Dr Earle Page at Grafton and in 1913 he joined the Northern Rivers Lancers 4th Light Horse Regiment becoming its Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) with the rank of Captain. 

When war was declared with Germany in early August 1914, George was one of the first to enlist on the 25th August with the Australian Army Medical Corps at Grafton NSW aged 27.  His rank was Captain and he was assigned to the 2nd Light Horse Regiment as RMO. 

George and the Unit embarked from Brisbane bound for Egypt on the 24th September 1914 on the HMAT Star of England.  They disembarked at Egypt and proceeded to Maadi Camp outside Cairo where they remained until 9th May 1915 when they embarked from Alexandria for the Gallipoli Peninsula aboard the HMHS Devanha.  They disembarked 2 days later at Anzac Cove around 9.30pm...under fire.  George was given the nickname of “Dad” by the troops, a testimony to the way he cared for the men. 

On the 6th June George received a slight gunshot wound to his hand at Monash Gully but returned to duty.  Just 8 weeks later he was evacuated from Gallipoli having haemorrhaged after suffering for 3 weeks with dysentery.  He was invalided to England on HMT Caledonia and arrived at the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth on the 1st September.  He spent 2 months recuperating before embarking from England for Egypt, just prior to Christmas, on RMS Ionic for return to duty with the 2nd Light Horse Regiment at Heliopolis in Egypt. 

The Regiment moved to the camp at Ben Selama in mid-January and then a month later to the camp at Minia situated on the River Nile.  It was while here that George was promoted to Major on the 25th February 1916.  Four days later he was transferred to the 14th Field Ambulance at Tel-el-Kebir.  In mid-June 1916 George embarked from Alexandria on the HMT Royal George and disembarked in France at Marseilles a few days later.  In early July he was posted for temporary duty to the 8th Australian Field Ambulance and later that month was detached for instruction to the gas school.  He re-joined his Unit in early January 1917.

George had quite the year in 1917 being recommended for awards...Knight of the Order of the Crown of Italy in February and twice recommended for the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in March and September.  He was also Mentioned in Despatches (MID) by Sir Douglas Haig in April, just after he was transferred from the 14th AFA to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station which was located at Estaires at that time.  He remained with this Unit until mid-January 1918 when he was transferred to command  the 10th Australian Field Ambulance and given the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  That became his official rank in May.  During March he was appointed as the Assistant Director of Medical Services (ADMS) attached to the 3rd Division Headquarters during the absence of Colonel Maguire. 

On the 9th October 1918 George embarked from England on the RMS Morvada for return to Australia via Canada.  He embarked from Vancouver on SS Makura arriving in Sydney on the 21st December, just in time for Christmas.  During the voyage, in November he was once again Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig.  On the 12th August 1919, George was awarded the DSO. 

George was discharged on 21st February 1919 then on the 13th May he married Lucie Eglantine McGregor at the Holy Trinity Church in Glen Innes NSW.  In 1921 he and Lucie welcomed their daughter Jocelyn and George was given command of the 7th Field Ambulance.  He served in that role till 1926 and at the time same time, he held the position of Acting ADMS from 1922-1927.  He was then appointed the ADMS and served in that role till 1931 when they moved to Queensland.  He was placed on the unattached list and given the rank of Honorary Colonel.

George served on the committee for the Annual Anzac Ball at the Brisbane City Hall in 1933 and in 1938 he was appointed as Deputy Director for Medical Services (DDMS).  When the second world war broke out he enlisted with the Australian Army Medical Corps at Brisbane on the 22nd September 1939 aged 52.  His service number was QX22000 but unfortunately, his record has not yet been opened for public view.  However, from other sources I have determined that he was in camp somewhere in NSW in 1941 and he was discharged on the 18th December 1944 with the rank of Colonel.  His Unit at the time of his discharge was the 12th Australian General Hospital which was located at Scots College at Warwick QLD.  George’s daughter Jocelyn served with the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service in WW2. 

George died on the 14th August 1958 in Brisbane aged 71.  Lucie survived him and died on the 16th February 1975 aged 85.  George and Lucie’s names, along with George’s parent’s names, appear on the Macartney family grave memorial at the Toowong Cemetery in Brisbane QLD. 

George William Cardew Macartney was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, the Victory Medal, the DSO and twice Mentioned in Despatches.  He was also eligible for the Anzac Commemorative Medallion. 

For service in WW2 George was awarded the Service Medal, Defence Medal and the War Medal 19139-1945. 

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 1st April 2022.